Global pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to deepen their investments in digital transformation. The goal? Strengthen performance, uphold strict regulatory compliance and fuel continuous improvement.

But transformation proves only as successful as the data behind it. Access to real-time, contextualized and connected data remains vital for removing process friction, optimizing workflows and navigating disruptions in supply chains, safety and scalability. Yet, for many pharma companies, complex and disparate systems continue to silo data, which dampens agility and drives up operational risk.

In Hexagon’s recent global study of 400 industrial executives, including senior leaders from the pharmaceutical sector, we explored the core challenges these organizations face, and how strategic data technology adoption reshapes outcomes. Download the full Hexagon Data Connectivity & Visibility eBook to learn more.

Complexities That Obstruct Compliance and Performance

The data reveals that pharma manufacturing leaders face persistent and interconnected pressures.

Cost disruption:

• 73% report project milestones being missed
• 64% cite unplanned downtime
• 63% experience budget overruns

Inflation, trade tariffs and inflexible assets compound these issues. In fact, 70% of leaders cite difficulty scaling assets as a severe or strong business constraint.

Compliance risk:

• 67% identify safety issues as a major operational threat
• 64% report cybersecurity risks as a significant impact area

These barriers hamper competitiveness and compliance.

Gaps in Data, Talent and Tools

Leaders recognize these challenges, and the underlying factors reveal as much.

Talent pressures:  

• 80% say skills and knowledge gaps have a strong or severe impact

Data shortcomings:

• 74% report delayed or outdated data
• 71% experience poor integration between systems
• 69% highlight incomplete or inaccurate data

Outdated processes and aging systems also play a critical role, with 76% of leaders citing manual workflows and 75% pointing to legacy infrastructure as major contributors to inefficiency and risk.

Increased Investment in Data Technologies

Pharma leaders continue to respond with bold action:

• 75% have increased digital tool adoption in the past 12 months
• 78% now use visualization dashboards frequently or continuously
• 73% report frequent use of digital thread technology 

In fact, 55% say their transformation efforts haven’t yet delivered the expected return. 

And for those who added more tools, the challenges didn’t diminish. They often intensified:

• 63% spend excessive time manually consolidating data (equating to 117 days a year)
• 67% still cite over-budget projects
• 66% acknowledge data fragmentation across platforms

Unlocking the Full Value: The Digital Thread Advantage

Pharma organizations recognize the need for connected insight. That’s why digital thread technology gains momentum. It can connect data across assets, systems and lifecycles to preserve context, ensure continuity and enable timely access.

But adoption maturity varies:

• 71% of frequent users say stakeholders have the access they need
• Only 57% of infrequent users report the same

According to International Data Corporation’s three stages of digital maturity, organizations that mature their digital thread approach (from manual, ad hoc methods to platform-based integration) can dramatically improve agility, compliance and resilience.  

True digital maturity starts with strategy—not just technology. Organizations need to first align their asset management strategy with overarching business goals before turning to tools.

Strategic Focus: Asset Management Systems as a Catalyst

Pharma’s digital transformation means creating value through data-centric asset management strategies. More importantly, it’s about aligning asset management objectives to organizational objectives. So, where to begin?

• Conduct ISO 55001 assessments to identify gaps in everything from asset management policy through to reporting non-conformities
• Align system performance to business priorities
• Empower teams with visibility and autonomy

These steps unlock hidden capacity, reduce the cost of goods sold and improve operational decision making. The right technologies follow and accelerate success.

Take the Next Step

Ready to lead in compliance, agility, and competitiveness? Download the full Hexagon Data Connectivity & Visibility eBook to discover how.